April 09, 2009

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Former Bush adviser Karl Rove was verbally accosted Thursday evening by an ex-chief of staff to former Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.).

Rove was quietly having dinner at the tony restaurant Charlie Palmer Steak on Capitol Hill when he was aggressively approached by Jason Roe, the former Feeney staffer. Roe, now of Federal Strategy Group, was "loud and boisterous" toward Rove. He was apparently (still) upset over the following comments Rove made on Fox News, the day after the election, in which Feeney — along with many other Republicans — went down in flames.

From FNC:

Rove: "It was a big night, no doubt about it, but look, the people who got defeated last night were people who had not done their homework and hadn't gotten ready for a tough race.

"You know, like this guy Feeney in Florida."

Colmes: "Tom Feeney, yes."

Rove: "Tom Feeney, who — who had a bunch of ethical issues raised and then voted against the rescue package. You know, voting against the rescue package was supposed to be a sure thing to get you elected in some quarters."

Shortly thereafter, Roe had to be escorted away from the table. Charlie Palmer Steak management remained typically mum and wouldn't even confirm Rove's appearance to Shenanigans, but when asked if there was a fight, the reply was, "Noooooo, this is a quiet family establishment."

Rove, when contacted, had "no comment."

Roe, when contacted, also had "no comment."

UPDATE: According to people familiar with the back and forth, we hear this was the conversation between Roe and Rove:

Roe walked over to the table, "I'm Jason Roe."

Rove: "Oh, the famous Jason Roe."

Roe: "I don't know that I'm famous, but I'm Tom Feeney's former chief of staff, and I'm offended by your comments on Fox about Tom. You guys wouldn't be in the White House without Tom. And you made these really degrading comments about him that offended a lot of people."

(Sidenote: Tom Feeney was the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives during the whole Bush/Gore 2000 recount.)

Rove: "Well, I have a file on the things Tom Feeney said about George Bush."

Roe: "That says more about you than me that you kept a file on Tom Feeney. This guy was so restrained in his desire to criticize the president — even against this staff's advice."

Rove: "I have a file."

Roe: "I'm right here. Tell me to my face what's in that file."

Rove: "I'll send you the file."

Roe: "Well, I hope the file is the beginning of the conversation and not the end. I would love to disabuse you of whatever you think of Tom Feeney's loyalty from this file."

Rove: "If you keep talking over me, this conversation's going to end right now."

Then a lady came over to fill up Rove's water glass, breaking up Roe and Rove, and Roe returned to the bar. Rumor has it Rove was waiting to have dinner with former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman.

Reader Comments (172)

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Nothing like a toe to toe between Republicans to make my heart glad.
What I really want to see is Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich in free style martial arts. It would be like the Pillsbury Dough Boy versus the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Karl Rove-quietly having dinner - on Capitol Hill when he was aggressively approached by Jason Roe, former Feeney staffer.
Roe, now of Federal Strategy Group, was "loud and boisterous" toward Rove.
...apparently (still) upset over the following comments Rove made on Fox News, day after election, in which Feeney ? along with many other Republicans ? went down in flames.
From FNC:
ROVE: "..... people who got defeated last night were people who had not done their homework and hadn't gotten ready for tough race.
"You know, like Feeney in Florida."
COLMES: "Tom Feeney, yes."
ROVE: "Tom Feeney, who ? who had a bunch of ethical issues raised and then VOTED AGAINST RESCUE PACKAGE. You know, VOTING AGAINST the RESCUE PACKAGE WAS SUPPOSED to be a SURE THING TO GET YOU ELECTED in some quarters."
Was VOTING AGAINST the RESCUE PACKAGE advice given to Tom Feeney by Karl Rove????
Sounds like WHY there's still anger amongst the sheep....

Tom Feeney was a wacko who hung around with crazy militia types and fake preachers in a backwater called Bithlo, Florida...he deserved what he got and his former chief should be happy he got to play with the big boys for a while...now go back to the pits at the Bithlo race track and leave the big citu alone!

Republicans not afraid to call a spade a spade. It to bad the demoncrats could build a little truth in their comments
Posted By: jake | April 09, 2009 at 10:13 PM ======================== Only when Bush got really unpopular did republicans said any thing. Most just toed the line of WH. It is just same as other ex admin guys from Bush admin is telling how thing were bad etc. Before they did not had the balls.

phineas_bounderby:"...What I really want to see is Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich in free style martial arts..."
Heard on the Hill: Rahm Emmanuel and Barney Frank are planning a ballet Pas De Duex for the next White House Correspondents' dinner.

calling a spade a spade is a black and white comment that we all heard growing up its very ugly to call color names and this is all that kind of comment is I would love to hear comments on the issues without the black and white southern brainless remarks made this is getting old and how about getting a little education for a change shame on these arrogant remarks

I think a STEEL CAGE MATCH should solve all the issues between these two.
Who wouldn't pay to see the Rove and Roe in tights. Well, come to think of it I would not pay to see it.
Bada bing.
I'm.....outta here

ok wasn't there a spate of stories about Feeney and Clint Curtis a few years ago concerning Curtis' well-substantiated accusations Feeney was conspiring to electronically alter election results, including 2000? If so, that would explain Roe's sense of betrayal and his phrase "You guys wouldn't be in the White House without Tom" and add a subtext to Rove's "I have a file". Not to read too much in or anything, but given the mass of coverage on the issue, it seems to warrant at least a mention here.

Headline says this was a fight. Where I come from, a fight ends up with Rove on the floor with a busted nose and some missing teeth, crying for the police. What actually happened is an animated conversation between two girly men who deserve to be in jail for orchestrating the theft of a presidential election.

Any word if Mehlman's boyfriend was with him, or were Rove and Mehlman on a date? Just imagine, if everyone Rove ****ed off comes back to bite him in the ass, he'll spend the next few years being rescued by wait people.

I was there. Roe wasn't that loud. The place was just half empty. Mehlman was late and I could see Rove and him held hands under the table between the main course and dessert, which seemed to be some kind of pavlova and berries.

After all the crimes of the past eight years, Rove is still getting a free ride. The worst that's happened to him is an argument in a restaurant? Why isn't he in jail for outing Valerie Plame? Why isn't he in jail for his involvement in the rigging of federal prosecutors prosecutions against political opponents? Why isn't he in jail for any of the many other crimes against our country that he committed.

Hey- whats with the inference that Rove's gay is negative. I personally think, that would be a complement if he actually had a relationship. If he was mating with slugs which it seems he was now that is a behavior we can criticize.

Hey "Great", the gay jokes are funny because they are commentary on the bigotry of these jerks, people who have made a career demonizing homosexuals and have profited nicely. It's fun to reverse their bigotry upon themselves. Get over it.

Does anyone think that Karl Rove sounds that gay guy that use to run the cia or fbi during the period when the U.S. government tried to rid the country of "Communist?" What's his name? I bet if we looked back at that guy's life and career we'd find many parallels to Karl Rove!!!! Gay. Keeping files on people to use against them at a later date. Somethings never change.

deology vs. Reality: So how have the three conservative GOP governors who are potential 2012 candidates -- Jindal, Palin, and Sanford -- fared in their campaign against Obama's economic stimulus? Not too well so far, it seems. Sanford has had to go up with a TV ad to defend his opposition to the stimulus, which is just a huge concession. And Politico's Ben Smith adds, "All three of those governors have been forced to scale back their expectations, to varying degree, as the push of conservative philosophy gave way to the pull of political reality. All three found that praise from the conservative movement in Washington meant nothing to furious state legislators of both parties. And in the end, along with other conservative Republican governors, the three submitted letters in recent days asking to be eligible for federal funds, a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed." http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21086.html

Why isn't the headline of this gossip article 'I, Karl Rove, Have a File on You'? Because someone thinks more people care about Karl Rove getting 'accosted' (ha!) than his claim that he's got files on everyone and anyone and will use them at a moment's notice if threatened?

"YOU GUYS WOULDN'T BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITHOUT TOM."
The Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives at the time of the Bush/Gore recount put Bush in the White House? And they all seem to know it. And then we have Rove with his repeated "I have a file" threats. These are some creepy people. I would love to have that whole thing investigated. We shouldn't ever let an election be stolen again.

How do you think Bush got elected. Did anyone bother to read Bush's Brain? Rove was the brains behind Bush winning the elections all the way back to TX. He had files on everyone that got he his way. He is a cutthroat bum. He has runined alot of people. Some with down right lies. I hope Rove will get his comeupings some day. What a lying jerk he really is. Rove doesn't play the game fair and square.

Anyone noticed how he referred to the bank TARP as "rescue package in November?
Fast forward to today, he chooses to use words like "bailout" or "Obama spending" plan.
No Stimulus, No Recovery. Not so subtle in the information age Karl!

So, Karl Rove maintained a file on the PUBLIC statements made by Feeney, and the lefties think there is some sort of dark secret to be investigated? Can't think their way out of a paper bag...
Nice commenters you get here, BTW.

Imagine my surprise that Politico has tilted this story towards Rove. It's why I, and millions of other Republicans, no longer come to this site unless directed by a particular story from other sites.
It's wanna be Fox News on the Net and it's why other sites such as The Daily Dish with Andrew Sullivan kicked tail in the contests as to which Republican site was best.

It wouldn't surprise me if Jason Roe gave Shenanigans this "inside" knowledge just to put his name out there. He's just as slimy as Rove. The only difference is that Rove has won a high-profile campaign.

"Hey- whats with the inference that Rove's gay is negative."
Being in the closet -- a characteristic of several of the most toxic human beings I've known personally -- is very negative.
Being in the closet so that you can be of service to a party that demonizes gay people is worse.
Seriously, gay folks: I know outing is taboo for most of you, but some of you must have the goods on this extremely destructive person. Get it together and let him be known for what he is.

This is just the beginning of "stiff lid opening." There is more to come, because they cannot keep shutting the sworn secrecy of the Republicans. What goes up must come down. Many lips are trembling as a result of the tremors within the Republicans. Punches may even be thrown before the lid finally is opened wide. At the moment their mouths is foaming with froth and getting slippery to speak.

Sticking up for Karl Rove is an extremely odd thing for republicans to do considering he's largely responsible for utterly destroying any possibility of a "permanent" republican majority. You guys should hate this guy for making the Obama presidency entirely possible.

"I have a file" ... of public comments made about a deeply unpopular president that is no longer in power (and wields very little of it outside of office.)
RNC needs cut this crew loose. I like a good debate and opposition party, and its hard to have either of those when your objective isn't to argue principles, but to simply win.
There's nothing illegal about Rove's file (probably), but its still pathetic that he keeps a loyalty index.
The interesting thing here, is that Feeney & Co 'got Bush into office' -- during the election, or in the post election night bureaucratic and judicial process.
If its the latter, a "disloyalty file" isn't much of a deterrent to coming clean on someone who kicked you while you were down.

LOL, FALL DOWN funny!
In youtube, search for:
sara palin jokes - best one
it's a PANIC! LOL still!
,,,also,,,
We know Joe W. very well, and we know that Joe loves nothing better then a good laugh, especially at himself! See this site setup by Friends of Joe the Plumber for a real laugh!
check out: joetheplumberone . blogspot . com

Feeney is no angel, and neither is Rove. Feeney orchestrated the greatest election fraud in US history, with Rove's blessing, no doubt. Roe's statement "You guys wouldn't be in the White House without Tom" is so true. It would have been Gore. Number one, Rove should not poke a stick at the beehive, and number two, Feeney should go to Congress and ask for immunity, then blow the lid off Florida's election fraud.

Ahh yes, reminds me of the time W dropped the F-bomb on Al Hunt and his family while they were enjoying dinner at a Dallas restaurant while his dad was still president, because Al had written something unflattering about Bush Sr. I can only hope that all of the rats on the sinking ship that is the republican party consume each other in desperation.

I just have 2 things to say. First all this Republican infighting we keep seeing is not only entertaining but also an encouraging sign that the party as a whole is about to self destruct. Second, Rove, in constantly defending Bush, is really defending himself. Afterall, Bush was his creation and it all went terribly wrong somehow.

I love the in fighting... makes me smile. It's just one more sign it's over for the party. What did the 'Grand Ol' Party', famous for elitism, Ivy League, and intellectuals think would happen when they embraced NASCAR? After all, NASCAR, the child of moon shiners where the original races were to out run the G-men, is the ultimate red neck trip! Ha, Ha, Ha...I can't stop laughing. They lost control of themselves and can't find their way back!

this is the kind of press that Karl should get lots more of. don't let the electorate forget who GWB's main enabler was. Idon't want him in jail, I want to read a story like this about once every couple of months about someone calling Karl out for his past performance.

Rove implies to Roe that his comments on Fox were motivated by Feeney's criticism of Bush. If anyone needed evidence of his lack of impartiality and the reason he shouldn't be on the air opining on elections, there it is.
It's kind of touching that some Republicans still view loyalty to Bush as a virtue.

Obviously you clowns have not been able to find a job since the coronation. Your "tears of joy" have turned to the mean and nasty that the left has always been known for. How have your miserable lives improved since? You don't seem happy. Youlove to talk about putting people in jail.Weird suckers,you are.

"I have a file" is the classic line I have heard within GOP circles.
Apparently, Mr. Rove needs to realize that Mr. Roe had a "memory file" on Mr. Rove's remarks he made on Fox.
It was about time that someone accosted by standing up for what they believe in. Good for Mr. Roe!

Ha, the Bush's Brain actually has a file on things Tom Feeney said about Bush? LOL, that must hurt real bad! After all, any blast against Bush is a hit against his BRAIN, viz. Karl Rove. Oops, he was dining with their fake religious creep, Ken Mehlman? LOL, Ken Mehlman too bribes from Abramoff... the very reason why he's creeping in the shadows all these years! OMG, what are these two scums have up their sleeves?
Rove is lucky that he's only dining at a local restaurant. If he were to be spotted in a restaurant abroad, he would be snatched up and dragged to Hague to be charged for his involvement in the Bush-Cheney torture and kidnapping activities.
Karl Rove is full of filth and BS. After all, he was raised in a House of Lies. How could anyone ever forget that Karl Rove never knew he was a BAST**D until his college years `when the father he was made to believe as his biological father left him and his mother. His mother committed suicide. Any surprise that Karl Rove is a pathetic psychopath? He must be suffering from an identity crisis!

Those bu****es crack me up. This is the same karl rove who recently stated publicly that Joe Biden was a liar and that the VP of the USA should not lie. Hmmmm, wasn't that notorious liar DICK cheny the VP while karl was busy trying to subvert our government, the justice department, the constitution, etc, etc. Yeah, I am pretty sure that is the same butt ugly weasel.

OMG!! ROVE has a file? And I wonder how many in the government have files on HIM!! Now those would be worth reading! I applaud Mr. Roe's enormous restraint in not punching that bulbous fool right in his briefcase!!

Hey dave...."bitter liberals"???
Let's see...who lost? Oh, that's right! YOU DID. I'm not bitter at all, and it's boorish behavior like Rove's that will keep your little cronies out of Washington for years and years to come. It must really rile you to see Obama accomplishing more in a few months than the Bush clan did in EIGHT YEARS. Ha!!! Thanks for making my day, seriously.

I'm surprised the little trud-blossom has the nerve to go out in public. I know about 50 million progressives out there would like to hold his chubby little toes to the fire. How ironic that this lucky fellow is also GOP.

On the other hand, it's nice to see Jason Roe come out from beneath the rocks where he typically dwells. It's VERY unusual for him to actually face someone with his latest whines and crimes of victimhood. His record is one of sending others, or taking anonymous shots paid for by employers or clients, then giggling as he watches the aftermath. Jason must have really gotten his blanky into a twist to actually work up the courage to address face-to-face the subject of his gripe. Hasn't been his pattern for the 15 years he's been doing WeTF it is he claims to do.
Hope Karl didn't undo all that relaxation Jason caught up on in Switzerland.

He has a file? They're out of office, and he still keeps a FILE on Bush Badmouthers? He's the repulsive reincarnation of J. Edgar Hoover. And that's pretty repulsive. Rove's dining with Ken Mehlman, then, of course makes perfect sense. Those of us "in the know, wink-wink" know that Miss Mehlman would get along very well with ol' J. Edgar, and Clyde!!

Roe: "You guys wouldn't be in the White House without Tom."
I think that's the most interesting statement in the whole exchange. I mean, we KNOW that the rethugs wouldn't have won the election without their soldiers in Florida, but it's nice to see one of them actually say it.

I like this comment by Roe:
You guys wouldn't be in the White House without Tom.
Feeney was accused by Clint Curtis of ordering the development of vote flipping software from a Florida electronics company Feeney was lead consel for. (Yee Enterprises) Feeney was also speaker of the Florida house at the time.
The lawsuit was a wrongful termination lawsuit and had nothing to do with politics (at the time)
Curtis has been deposed in court, passed polygraph and testified before congress.
And 16000 votes just "disappeared" in Volusia county Florida in 2000. No one's been able to explain why.
Did Roe, perhaps, let too much information slip?

Drivel? Did someone call all this "drivel"? How dare you! These are "shenanigans" I'll have you know! And it is very much fun watching desperately irrelevant Repugnicants throwing themselves into "shenanigans." Let's wish for them heart attacks, okay?

Karl Rove is the most arrogant, hypocritical lowlife to degrade our political culture in decades. He thumbs his nose at Congress every time he is requested to appear before committees investigating his role in a number of scandals. Conyers' has subpoenaed him again. Why is Rove so afraid to be questioned about his own behavior? Obviously, he has broken many laws, lied about it repeatedly, & refuses to be held accountable for his own misdeeds.
The incident with Roe cited in this article is just the latest example of how Karl Rove feels that he is above the law & never has to answer to anybody. The only fitting response to Rove's shameful antics will be to indict, prosecute, convict, & incarcerate this unelected plague.

Remember that Karl Rove never finished college, nor for that matter did Rush Limbaugh. President Obama finished at or near the top of his class at Harvard. One does not have to go to or finish higher level schooling in order to have a positive effect on our Nation.
However, higher level schooling teaches one to think past the obvious conclusions; to not jump to conclusions.

Karl Rove is, by any definition, one of political history's truly nasty, hateful characters. He had his years of abusing power with impunity. Those years are now over. Hopefully, no day will pass without him paying some price for his actions. He is a miserable soul and fully deserves to spend the rest of his life surrounded by that misery.

Has anyone ever noticed the discomfort and distaste reflected in " W"s expression when he was around ROVE. He seemed for a while to endure this necessary evil. Very much the way Papa endured Lee Atwater. They accepted the methods of these plotters while letting us know that they were a bit above it all. Rove has nowhere to go but will be an adequate marketer of himself for a few years but with little effect.

I once had the personal pleasure of chasing Karl Rove through Dulles Airport - he knows when he's about to get an earful, and he literally runs as fast as he can.
It was great fun and excellent exercise - highly recommended for your physical and mental health - good hunting!

Karl Rove is nothing more than Bush-Cheney Administration's Lee Atwater; let me tell you what a lying, evil, unconscionable d-bag Atwater was. He self-confessed of lying and distroying about anyone who would possibly get in the way of Bush 1, and Bush 1 said all okay in politics. Filth! Rove earned his nickname Turdblossom. He proudly took Atwater's book (not a page, the whole book) and added Rovian muck to it. Rove will go to prison, and keep company with his filthy lies, if I and a whole lot of other Americans have anything to do with it. Evil, d-bag of a person. No man...no gentleman. Simply filth.

Rove should be fair game for any citizen wanting to give him an extended earful. He has made a smug mockery of the nation's best interests for years and deserves to hear about it from all points on the political spectrum. And I'm still hoping he'll do jail time, too, giving him ample time to mull it all over.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rove#Family.2C_upbringing.2C_and_entry_into_politics
"... In January 1986, the now divorced Rove married Darby Tara Hickson... "
Got a computer with internet access? How about use it to look up answers to stupid-questions before posting implications or accusations. Rove practices what most other public-figures do - Keep public and private life separate for the sake of friends and family that don't want the public scrutiny